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Falling is a significant cause of injury and death in frail older adults. Residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities fall for a variety of reasons and are more likely to endure injuries after a fall than those in the community The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) Clinical Practice Guideline is written to give LTC staff an understanding of risk factors for falls and provide guidance for a systematic approach to patient assessment and selection of appropriate interventions. It is intended to help facilities establish processes for evaluating, managing, and preventing falls. AMDA guidelines are written specifically for the elder in the LTC setting. Facility teams systematically address each individual's risk factors for falls and fall risks and the adverse consequences on the patient's functioning and quality of life. AMDA guidelines emphasize key care processes and are organized for ready incorporation into facility-specific policies and procedures to guide staff and practitioner practices and performance. KEYWORDSFalls, Fall risk, Elderly, Clinical practice guidelines, Long-term care, Fall, FallingFalling is a significant cause of injury and death in older adults, especially those who are frail. Residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities fall for a variety of reasons and are more likely to endure injuries after a fall than those living in the community. Among other things, decreased body weight and osteoporosis may result in serious injuries or fracture as a consequence of a fall. To help prevent and manage falls in long-term care settings, American Medical Directors Association (AMDA)-Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine™ recently developed a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Falls and Fall Risk. Preventing falls with frail elders in this setting, many with cognitive problems, agerelated changes, chronic medical conditions, medication effects, and physical limitations is a significant challenge and requires dedicated interdisciplinary effort. AMDA stresses that goals should focus on minimizing fall risk and risk of fall-related injuries while maximizing individual dignity, freedom, and quality of life.The purpose of the guideline is to give LTC facility staff an understanding of intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for falls and provide guidance for a timely and systematic approach to patient assessment and selection of appropriate interventions. In addition, it is intended to help facilities establish processes for evaluating, managing, and preventing falls.AMDA guidelines are written specifically for the elder in the LTC setting. AMDA believes that guidelines in the LTC setting should be consistent with fundamental goals of desirable LTC practice. Operationally, this requirement means that the nursing facility care team systematically addresses (1) each individual's risk factors for a number of diseases and conditions and (2) the adverse consequences of the diseases and conditions on the patient's functioning and quality of life. AMDA guidelines emphasize key care processes and are...

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